US primaries can be summed up in two words: Minority rule. 

A new report from FairVote found that 120 major party candidates in statewide and congressional primary elections won with less than 50% of the vote in 2022. Forty-three of the candidates won with less than 35% of the vote. 

Early voting in California is quickly approaching for the 2022 election cycle. In most elections, voters will choose among candidates from two different parties -- but in several districts -- the “top-two” nonpartisan primary has led to head-to-head races between two Democrats.

Editor's Note: The pieces below feature two sides to the ongoing discussion on ranked choice voting from Deb Otis of FairVote and John Aldrich, Pfizer-Pratt University Professor of Political Science, Duke University. These perspectives originally published on Divided We Fall and have been republished on IVN with permission from the publisher.

Many people in the US are worried about the state of democracy in their state and the country at-large. However, a new report shows why there is still cause for hope even in a tremulous political environment. 

RepresentUs recently released “We The People” as part of its 10-year anniversary celebration. The report takes a look back at the last decade in pro-voter reform successes, including 161 state and local victories to give voters better elections and a more accountable political process.